After three podium finishes in this year’s Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the highly competitive one-make rally championship for Mitsubishi Lancers, Daniel Barry from Enniskerry, together with his co-driver Mark Bowens from Castlemartr, were denied a fourth, when they retired on the final stage in this weekend’s round four, the Severn Valley National Rally. However, they continue to lead the championship with three rounds left to go.

Starting and finishing from the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, mid-Wales, the event featured seven timed special stages on and around the Brecon Beacons, the route of 65 competitive miles visiting many of the forests that have been previously used by the Rally GB.

With the car fully repaired following its adventures on the recent Manx Rally, where the team finished third in the Mitsubishi series, Daniel was relishing a return to gravel surface roads and was detimined to defend his championship lead.

Stage one set the scene for what was to be a fierce battle between the Mitsubishis for the rest of the day, when he and four other drivers all completed the 5.57 mile run through Esgair Dafydd in six minutes and nine seconds.

Looking to move ahead on stage two Daniel upped his pace, but his car started to lose power when the exhaust system came loose and, whilst trying to compensate, he momentarily slid into a ditch – the consequent time loss dropping him to fourth.

Fortunately, the first service halt of the day followed and his car was fixed in readiness for the third and longest stage of the day, a nineteen-mile run through Radnor Forest. Following a concentrated effort Daniel moved up to third place, but reported that perhaps he was trying too hard and, for the final four stages, focussed on tidying-up his driving style and challenge for the lead.

Stages four and five went well and he moved within nine seconds of the leader, but he became concerned as the car’s temperature gauge started to rise. Switching off the anti-lag system and adopting a more cautious approach through stage six, Daniel crossed his figures for the final 15-miles of stage seven. But, halfway through, he saw the temperature go into the red and, not able to drive the car as he would do normally, he slid into a ditch.

As well as being stuck fast, the impact with the scenery had split the car’s oil-cooler and therefore, the 24-year old’s rally was well and truly over.
“I was really hoping to continue my run of podium finishes so I could increase my advantage in the Mitsubishi Championship”, said Daniel. “However, I am still in the lead, albeit now tying on points. However, the final result is based on the best six scores from the season’s seven events, so it’s now going to be a great fight to the finish.”

There is now a seven-week break before the fifth round of the Evolution Challenge, the Swansea Bay Rally, which takes place on 19th July.

Daniel’s 2007 campaign is supported by: Tech-Plus, Irish Shipping and Transport, BPI Telecom, Henco under-floor heating and SC Signs.